Donald Sterling On Magic Johnson: People Should Not Look Up To Him, He Has HIV

Donald Sterling has kept relatively quiet since his mistress V. Stiviano recorded him making racist comments about Black men as well as the players he employed as the owner of the LA Clippers. Recently, Sterling sat down with CNN’s Anderson Cooper for an exclusive interview that will air Tuesday at 8pm EST, to speak candidly about his life since the infamous recording and had more than a few interesting sound bites about the man he mentioned personally in his recording, Magic Johnson.

As the world watched and waited in the hours and days after Sterling’s voice was heard over a taped recording telling his mistress how much good he does in employing Black people, but coincidentally not wanting them at any of his games, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers remained silent at what he said to Cooper was at the bequest of non other than Magic Johnson.

“Wait, be patient, I’ll help you, we’ll work it out,” Sterling said Johnson told him.

In the exclusive CNN interview, Sterling broke his silence and apologized profusely while also attempting to clear his name as a racist, by saying that his former girlfriend “baited” him into making “terrible,” and seemingly racist remarks.

In a twist of irony and while the nearly twice over NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award recipient attempted to clear his name, he went on another one of his rants in an effort to disparage Magic Johnson’s.

Sterling, 80, slammed the former Los Angeles Lakers player’s character and his battle with HIV, saying Johnson hasn’t done anything to help others.

“What kind of a guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV? Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about?” Sterling asked. “I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. But what does he do for the black people? He doesn’t do anything.”

Johnson, who was mentioned personally in the conversation between Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano after the mixed-race model posed with the NBA legend on Instagram, has been a central figure in the war-of-words controversy.

“Admire him, bring him here, feed him, f**k him, but don’t put (Magic) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me,” he said.

“I feel bad for Doc Rivers, Chris Paul and all those guys who are African Americans that play for Donald Sterling. Then you think about all the people who live in his apartment building – some of them are African Americans, too. We’re putting a lot of money to his pocket, but at the same time he doesn’t want us in there or come to the Clipper games.

I think that all of us are outraged. We are all upset … If you’re going to be like this, ‘why do you own a team in the NBA which is over 70% African American basketball players?'”

Johnson was clear on what he thinks should happen next.

“I think he should step down. If you feel like that in a league that is predominately African Americans, you shouldn’t be owning a team.”

Now that Sterling faces a lifetime ban from the National Basketball Association, a $2.5 million fine, and the possibility of being forced to sell his team by other NBA owners, Sterling is now grasping for straws due to the backlash of his silence.

‘Magic Johnson made me do it,’ was the sentiment that echoed in the interview with Anderson Cooper.

“I think he wanted me to just do nothing so he could buy the team,” Sterling said to CNN.

Although Magic Johnson has been very outspoken on his position with Donald Sterling at the head of the Clippers organization, he has not given any solid indication of whether or not he would buy the team.

“The [NBA] Board of Governors first has to vote him out, and then Donald Sterling is going to fight it,” Johnson said. “Look, I’ve got other things to do before I just say my level of interest, but the team has to be up for sale, and I think that’s going to be eight months to a year.

“Once that time is official that it’s really up for sale, we’ll take a look at it. But right now I’ve got too many other things to be worried about,” he told the Star Telegram.

Since news broke on Sterling slamming Magic Johnson, the former LA Laker went to his twitter to say that he is done mentioning Sterling’s name.

After this week, no more Sterling talk. Just the NBA Playoffs, my @Dodgers and my @LA_Sparks!